This week in College Football

I know what you're thinking...it's almost Saturday and I have no idea what's going on this weekend. Never fear folks because good ole Rambo Dakota would never leave you to be blind to all that the wonderful sport of college football has to offer this fine weekend. Let me begin with the matchups of the weekend that are sure to amaze and amuse.

No. 12 Michigan vs. Wisconsin (Noon on ESPN): A Big Ten matchup pitting Michigan (8-2, 6-0) against Wisconsin (7-3, 3-3) should be one of those smash-mouth games that will get some good defense fused with good running matchups...if P.J. Hill plays. He was out last week on account of a leg injury and the Buckeyes took advantage of the lack of running ability by his backups to beat the Badgers last week in the Toilet, er, Horseshoe. Chad Henne and Mike Hart are playing through pain but nothing will stop them from working diligently in order to go 7-0 in the Big Ten and set up, in a category of understatement, a huge matchup next weekend in Ann Arbor for the Big Ten title. So far 83% of Yahoo! College Pick'em users have selected Michigan to win this game and this blogger will pick nothing different. Michigan wins 24-10 and move one step closer to beating those Buckeyes.

No. 18 Auburn vs. No. 10 Georgia (3:30 on CBS): An SEC matchup that is sure to ruin one team's shot at an SEC Championship match, should Florida defeat South Carolina also. Auburn has been up and down all year with their play and is luck to be back in this spot after losing tough games to South Florida early in the year and LSU just three short weeks ago. Auburn is on the rebound and Brandon Cox is their leader with over 1,600 yards passing and 8 TDs. Auburn needs this game as they stand a tough test next week at home against Alabama (for Josh I will say "Roll Tide!"). Georgia got clobbered by Tennessee earlier this season 35-17 but Matthew Stafford has risen to the challenge with 15 TD passes this season and nearly 1,800 yards passing. This will be a rock 'em sock 'em SEC game. Georgia at home 31-28 on a last second FG.

No. 17 USC vs. California (8pm on ABC): Oh how the mighty Trojans have fallen, but Cal has fallen farther and harder. After starting 5-0 they struggled for three straight games against Oregon State, Arizona State, and UCLA. The Trojans, on the other hand, were on their way to another season of running over opponents until...Stanford? The loss to Stanford was just another example of the crazy, anything can happen tone to this college football season. USC needs to win this game before facing tough Arizona State next week and then pesky UCLA who already beat Cal and took out USC last year, much to Michigan and Florida fans delight. It's nice to see Pete Carroll and company seeing football from the other end of the spectrum where they may not even make the Rose Bowl. Still, if John David Booty plays, as he did last week, then USC should hold on. Trojans 17-7 over Cal.

Michigan State vs. Purdue (Noon on Big Ten Network): MSU needs one win, as they have for the past three weeks, to become bowl eligible. They are 1-5 in the Big Ten and clinging to hope some bowl will pick them up should they go 6-6 on the year. Purdue is in a bowl already in at 7-3 and cannot win the Big Ten so they are playing for pride. This game is the easier of the last two for the Spartans as they host Penn State next week, a difficult team to predict. If MSU doesn't win this weekend it means combustion yet again for Dantonio and East Lansing. I'll give them a shot and, as long as they don't get a lead to lose, I'll take MSU 17-13.

That's all for the matchups but dammit all if that Central vs. Western game wasn't something fantastic on Tuesday eh? A boring old first half had most losing interest but if you turned it off you missed a crazy wild one. Western's two TDs in 58 seconds coupled with a last second fumble leading to a Central game-winning QB sneak for a TD and a 34-31 victory. That's a rivalry game and how they are supposed to be played and how they are supposed to end.

Finally, let's look at the Heisman outlook. I would love to say that Mike Hart is right up on top for a deserving candidate but he has missed too much time and, despite being the leading rusher in the nation up until a week or two ago, he is not the front-runner nor a runner at all. The top three in the lead right now, rightfully so, are Dennis Dixon (QB for Oregon), Tim Tebow (QB for Florida), and Darren McFadden (RB for Arkansas). Dixon shows many talents in his passing and rushing abilities and he has led the Ducks passed Michigan and USC into a serious contender for a national championship. If they can get some help from the voters and either Ole Miss or Arkansas to beat LSU they could be playing in the BCS Title Game in Glendale. For Tebow he is an amazing running QB who can pass a laser and lead a team down the field...and he's white! I know, didn't see that coming did ya? Florida is still in the SEC hunt but have struggled but Tebow is the heart of that team and without him they would be sitting at home wondering where the season went. For McFadden if you blink you will miss him run by you. 321 yards rushing against South Carolina last week. You read that right, this kid is something and a force to be reckoned with. That performance should vault him to the top...at least for now. Keep an eye on these guys because you never know who could emerge with the coveted trophy and a spot in history.